Hinata's Painstaking Preparations

Hyuga Hiashi nodded without saying much.

Since Hinata had chosen this path herself, leaving the village to carry out missions was unavoidable. Besides, given Hinata's strength, Hyuga Hiashi had no need to worry too much.

Hyuga Hiashi had heard that on the day of the Genin Exam, Kakashi had paid a visit to Konoha Hospital, while Hinata had returned spotless, without so much as a speck of dust on her.

Had she beaten Kakashi into the hospital?

After giving her a few reminders, Hyuga Hiashi watched as Hanabi looked at Hinata with reluctant eyes and asked, "How long will it be before you come back from this mission, Sis?"

Hinata pinched Hanabi's little cheek and said with a smile, "I'll be back soon. When I return, I'll bring you a gift, okay?"

"Mm!" Hanabi nodded emphatically.

The Hyuga Clan's main and branch family system was cruel, but Hanabi had already come to terms with it. She had always been determined to protect her sister. Once Hinata inherited the main family in the future, Hanabi would become a branch family member who protected Hinata.

Although receiving the 'Caged Bird' curse mark meant losing one's freedom for life, there were still some things she could decide for herself.

After playing around with Hanabi for a while, Hinata returned to her room to prepare her luggage for the trip.

The next morning, the sky was clear and crisp, and the rising sun warmly shone upon the earth.

At Konoha Gate, the enormous gate standing over ten meters tall displayed Konoha's strength. The wooden walls rose dozens of meters into the air, and anyone arriving here would first feel how small they were.

By the time Hinata arrived, Tazuna, Kakashi, and Sasuke were already there.

Hinata carried a large backpack, with the tip of a collapsible fishing rod peeking out.

The fishing rod was half-hidden and bashful, but it was still obvious enough for anyone to recognize it as a fishing rod.

Kakashi held his forehead, asking in an utterly helpless tone, "Hinata, what exactly did you bring?"

Hinata thought seriously for a moment before answering, "Ninja tools, changes of clothes, some seasonings and tableware, things like that. Oh! A fishing rod too, and novels to pass the time when I'm bored."

"Isn't the Land of Waves by the sea? When Uncle Tazuna goes fishing, I can fish beside him too!"

Tazuna said unhappily, "Hey, hey! I hired you to protect me, not to go on a picnic."

Hinata reassured him with a smile. "Don't worry, Uncle Tazuna. There won't be ninja battles in a C-rank mission. If ninja appear, then it falls under the scope of a B-rank mission. That isn't something we can handle, and someone else will protect you then."

I need to set expectations first.

Once the Ghost Brothers appear, I'll immediately suggest abandoning the mission. Only an idiot would risk their life fighting Zabuza.

The key is that it doesn't even pay much!

Wait!

Abandon the mission?

Did Naruto infect me? I'm already planning to abandon the mission, so why did I prepare so much stuff?

I shouldn't have brought anything at all.

It's over. My IQ... isn't just going to leave and never come back, is it?

Tazuna's eyes dimmed slightly at those words, and he did not argue further. Kakashi glanced at Tazuna, having already noticed that something was off.

But... Kakashi glanced at Hinata again. Did you say that with a straight face?

Before long, Naruto arrived. The moment he reached the gate, he shouted, "Let's go!"

The Land of Waves lay east of Konoha, across the sea from it. It was a very small island nation.

At its narrowest point, the strait between the Land of Waves and Konoha was no wider than a large river. That was where Tazuna's bridge was being built.

Although Konoha's intelligence network was exceptional, a small nation without ninja like the Land of Waves was not worth Konoha's attention at all.

That was also why Tazuna had been able to conceal the true nature of the mission without Konoha noticing.

As for Gato?

Gato might have been considered wealthy in the Land of Waves, but in the Land of Fire, he was nothing worth mentioning.

In a situation like the Land of Waves, even with Zabuza there, Konoha could easily handle it by dispatching a few Anbu squads.

Gato must have been unable to make it elsewhere before running to the Land of Waves to play king.

In fact, Kakashi knew about Gato's presence in the Land of Waves. The Land of Waves was close to the Land of Fire, so Konoha naturally had intelligence on it.

But a minor character like Gato could have, at most, a few samurai around him. Forget Kakashi and Hinata—even Naruto and Sasuke could deal with him easily.

If there had only been Gato, this mission to the Land of Waves truly would have counted as a C-rank mission.

It was only because Konoha had not paid attention to the Land of Waves that they did not know Gato had hired a ninja of Zabuza's caliber.

Konoha probably never imagined Gato would have such nerve. Wasn't he afraid Zabuza would kill him and seize his fortune?

In truth, Zabuza did have such thoughts. He simply had not yet completely taken control of all of Gato's businesses, so he had not acted.

With a ninja's speed, it would only take two or three days to travel at full speed from Konoha to the Land of Waves. But Tazuna was just an ordinary person, so the journey had stretched to over three weeks.

Hinata disliked this mission more and more. It took a long time, paid little, and worst of all, it was dangerous.

Although Tazuna's actions were for the sake of his country, and his concealment of the mission was understandable, what he did was also irresponsible toward the lives of ninja.

Hinata truly did not think much of him.

But Hinata did not dare show it in the slightest.

The future Seventh Hokage was watching right beside her. This idiot would never think that deeply. He would only think Gato was despicable and Tazuna pitiful, then insist on helping them.

If your superior was an idiot, that was a wonderful thing. But if your teammates were idiots too, that was painful.

The group of five traveled on foot along the main road, journeying during the day and camping at night, or staying overnight in towns they passed through.

At first, Naruto and Sasuke found it rather novel. This was their first time leaving Konoha and traveling so far.

But after only a few days, their enthusiasm was worn away by the endless travel.

Hinata, on the other hand, remained full of enthusiasm. Since this was basically a trip, and no Hyuga Clan elders were following her, she completely let herself go. She admired the sights, ate and drank her fill along the way, and did not look like she was carrying out a mission at all.

They were nearing Konoha's border. Once they crossed the sea, they would enter the Land of Waves, yet the Ghost Brothers still had not appeared.

Speak of the devil, and the devil appeared.

Hinata had just been thinking about the Ghost Brothers when they arrived.

There was a very conspicuous puddle of water. As the five passed by, Hinata noticed Kakashi deliberately glance at it.

Then Kakashi moved to the back of the group.

Hinata slowed down and stayed beside Kakashi.

Kakashi: "..."

Kakashi gave Hinata a sideways glance and asked, "Why are you following me?"

"Hm? Hm?" Hinata put on a clueless expression and asked in confusion, "What do you mean, I'm following you? Aren't we following Uncle Tazuna to the Land of Waves?"

Hehe! Actually, I want the Ghost Brothers to take me out too.

But let's make this clear first, I'm not trying to slack off. I'm doing this to train Naruto and Sasuke. I'm doing it for their own good!